Toy fish



Feb. 19, 1963 M. i. GLAss ETAL ToY'FIsH d 1 Filed July 27, 1959 United States Patent() 3,077,698 TOY FISH Marvin I. Glass and Guitars Licitis, Chicago, lli.; said Guitars Licitis assigner to Marvin l. Glass Fiied July 27, i959, Ser. No. 829,615 2 Claims. (Si. 445-92) The present invention relates generally to a toy fish adapted for use in a fishing game and, more particularly, it relates to a toy fish of the class described which is adapted to fight when it is hooked during the game.

Various childrens Igames have been designed which involve hooking a simulated iish which is disposed under the surface of water in a pan or other container. These games have involved skill in that the connection between the hook and the ring or other connector on the sh can be made quite diflicult to effect and the refraction of light caused bythe water makes it diicult to judge exact distances under water. However, in most games of this type,` the participants quickly lose interest in the game because there is little action.

Accordingly, it is an object'of this invention to provide a fishing game which supplies the element of action to the game in that the sh fights after it is hooked. A. further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical fish which is useable in a game of the class described.

Other object-s and advantages of the invention will beconie known by reference to the appended drawings, and the following `description of one preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partially in section of a fish embodying various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the fish shown in FG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View of the head portion of the fish shown in FIGURE l showing the action involved when the hook is fully engaged to cause the iish to iight; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing the driving mechanism for the fish.

In general, a iish embodying the features of the invention includes an articulated |body having flotation charnbers in the upper portion of the body so that the sh will doat in an upright position. Means are provided within the fish Ibody to cause the articulated sections of the body to hinge rapidly relative to one another so as to cause a fighting action. The body of the ysh also includes control means engageable by a hook or the like to cause the fish to commence its lighting action.

in the illustrated structure, the fish includes a body 7 which is formed in two articulated sections 9 and il. The forward or head section is formed from a shell 13 of plastic or the like shaped to simulate the head section of a fish. In the illustrated structure the shell i3 is provided with an opening ldat its forward-end which simulates -a mouth, a rounded dome-shaped upper section which may include a vertically disposed, hollow upper iin l5 and a vertically disposed lower fin 16, as illustrated, and a rearward bulkhead section 17 which extends downwardly across the upper portion of the head section 9. The rearward end of the head section 9* is tapered somewhat, as is illustrated at 18 in FIGURE 2, so as to provide a mating engagement with the tail section 1l which will be described.

The tail or rearward body section il is also formed from a plastic shell 19 or the like, and includes a hollow tail 2t), a hollow, vertically disposed upper iin 2i, and a vertically disposed, downwardly directed lower iin 23.

Mice

das

The lower fin 23 may be separated longitudinally into a pair of spaced apart members in order to provide in co* operation with its lower iin lo a tripod base for the fish to rest upon when the fish is out of the water. In the illustrated structure the tail 20 is hollow, as is the upper fin 21 so as to form pockets in the upper section thereof in which air may be entrapped to buoy up the iish. The forward end of the tail section il is proportioned so -as to extend over the tapered section IS of the head body section 9.

The articulated connection is effected by providing a downwardly directed boss or pin 25 at the forward end of the upper portion of t-he tail section ll. The pin 25 is adapted to be engaged in a hole 27 provided in the tapered portion 18 at the rearward end of the head section 9. A hinge connection 23 is also provided at the lower` portion of the body by providing an upwardly directed boss 29 in the rearward portion of the forward body section, the boss 29 engaging a hole 31 in the forward edge of the tail section 11. As illustrated in the drawings (FGURE l), a portion 33 of the rearward body section extends forwardly to provide a tongue for engaging the 'driving mechanism for the device.

The motive power for the articulated motion is effected lby a spring powdered cam `unit 35 which is actuated by control means, which will hereinafter be described, to cause the fish to thrash and light. The unit 35 is supported within the body of the fish upon a tr-ansversely extending, horizontally disposed shaft 37 which is journalled in openings 39 in the side walls of the fish body (PEG- UES 3 and 5 The shaft is of irregular cross section, in t-he illustrated embodiment square, so as to provide a ldriving connection between the various drive elements, as will hereinafter be described.

Movement of .the tail section Il of the fish is accomplished by a hollow, drum shaped cam il which is rotatably supported upon the shaft 37 and which is provided in its outer face d2 with a sinuous cam track 43. The cam track d3 is adapted to be engaged by a cam follower 45 which is attached to the forward end of the forwardly extending tongue 33. It will be seen that when the cam vil rotates that the cam follower 45 will cause the lever 33 to move fro-m side to side thereby causing the tail section 1.1 of the fish to hinge back and forth relative to the head section 9 of the lish.

Power for the cam 4l. is provided by a coil spring 44 of the clock spring type which is supper-ted within the hollow cam 4l. The cam di is provided with a flanged side wall die in `order to permit the spring da to be disposed within the cam 4l., ,the side wall dla being suitably attached to the cam il after assembly. rhe spring de acts upon the cam dit through a uni-directional drive. In this connection, the inner end of the spring de is at tac-hed to a bushing do which is supported on the cross shaft 37 vfor rotation therewith. In this connection, the aperture 4.17 in the bushing is provided with a cross section which engages the irregular cross section of the shaft 37. The youter end of the spring td is provided with a connecting tab d3 which is anchored to the cam 4l.

Driving engagement between the shaft 37 and the cam 4l is effected by a ratchet i9 which is fabricated from flexible material, such as plastic or the like (FIGURE 5). The ratchet includes a central portion or hub Si having a passageway 55 shaped to engage the ratchet to the shaft '37 for rotation therewith, and a plurality of elongated arcuate ydogs 55 which extend generally tangentially from and are spaced along the periphery of the hub 5l. The ratchet is adapted to fit on the shaft 37 adjacent one of the faces of the cam 4l, with the flexible dogs 55 being adapted .to engage a projection or tooth 57 attached to the head section 9 of the ish. The ratchet dogs 55 are adapted to slip over the projection or tooth 57 when they are rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIGURE l, but are adapted to engage the Itooth 57 when they are rotated in the opposite direction.

The winding handle for the spring motor is provided by simulated fins 63 on the sides of the head section 9, the fins 63 being rigidly attached to the outer ends of the shaft 37 which extends through the wall of the .head section 9 (FIGURE 3).

The control means `for starting and stopping the unit comprises a hinged detent 65 which is adapted to be engaged in the cam track 43 of the cam 41. The detent 65 includes a detent tooth 67 which is adapted to directly engage the cam track 43, a wedging block 69, a pivot pin 71, and a section 73 which is adapted to extend from the block 69 to a point adjacent the mouth of the fish for engagement by a hook 75.

As shown `in FIGURE 1, the detent tooth 67 extends rearwardly from the wedging block 69 and is proportioned to engage .the central portion of the cam track 43. The upper surface of the wedging block 69 fits against an abutment 77 which is generally horizontally disposed and which is formed as a part of the body section. As shown in FIGURE 1, the abutment 77 slopes at a slight angle a (FIGURE l), c g. from the horizontal, so as to aid in obtaining the desired wedging action. The lower end of the wedging block 69 includes a downwardly extending web 79 which supports the horizontally disposed, transversely extending pivot 71. The pivot pin 71 is slidably engaged in a pair of bifurcated members 81 so that the detent 65 is enabled to move vertically and pivot about the pivot pin 7,1.

FIGURE 1 shows the detent 65 in the locking position. In this position the action of the spring biased cam 41 acts upwardly upon the detent tooth 67 and causes the wedging block 69 to be wedged against the abut-ment 77. This effectively prevents rotation of the cam 41. Also, the force of the spring 44 which acts in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 1 lon the tooth 67 forces the block 69 against the abutment 77 insuring locking relationship. In this position, the hook engaging section 73 extends upwardly to a point adjacent the upper portion of the mouth opening 14 of the fish. The forward surface of the hook engaging section 73 provides a transversely extending wall S3 which slopes upwardly and forwardly from the wedging block 69. The upper end of the wall 83 is provided with a head 85 which is adapted to simulate the upper lip of the fish. Extending rearwardly from the head 85 there is -provided a hood 87 which slides into and out of the mouth opening 14 so that movement of the head 85 makes it appear that the fish is closing his mouth. A small space is provided between the head 85 and the forward edge of the opening 14, and a portion of the hook 87 is cut out to provide an access opening `89 for the hook as shown at 89 in FIGURES 1,.3 and 4. The access opening 89 permits a hook to move between the head or lip 85 and the forward edge of the shell 13 to rock the wedging `block 67 about the pivot 71.

In operation, the spring 44 is wound by turning the fins 63, the detent tooth 67 being in position to prevent movement of the cam 41. In this condition, as the spring 44 is tensioned the ratchet dogs 55 slide readily over the Atooth 57, the cam remaining stationary. The toy is then placed in water and air is trapped in the upper portion of the tail section and in the upper portions of the 1in 21 and the forward body section and fin 15 so as to buoy up the fish. The hook 75 is then dangled on the end of a line (not shown) in front of the fish. The hook should desirably terminate in an upwardly directed, rather broad wedge shape, as illustrated (FIGURES 1 and 4), so as to most effectively operate the device. When the hook 75 is raised upwardly in the opening 89 between the lip head 85 and the body shell 13, the wedge action of the hook moves the hook engaging section 73 forwardly which, in turn, tilts the wedge block 69 about the pivot pin 71. Because of the arrangement of the wedge block 69 and the pivot pin 71, a slight forward movement of the hook engaging section 73 causes substantial angular movement of the detent tooth 67 since the pivot pin 71 moves downwardly in the bifurcated members 81 changing the center of rotation. Further, the upward force caused by the action of the spring 44 on the cam 41 throws the detent tooth 67 out of the cam track 43. This causes the cam 41 to rotate under the action of the spring 44 which, in turn, causes the rearward body section to rapidly hinge back and Vforth relative to the forward body section 9, causing the fish to thrash. Often, the fighting is violent enough to disengage the hook from the opening S9 thereby permitting the fish to escape The various features of the invention cooperate to provide an amusing and fascinating toy. When the fish is properly hooked, it fights and may escape before one is able to remove the fish from the water. The fighting action is enhanced by the air chambers in the upper portion of the fish.

Various features of the invention believed to be new are set forth in the 4appended claims.

' We claim:

1. A fish toy of the class described comprising an articulated body including a forward section and a tail section, means for hingedly connecting said sections for hinged action along a vertical axis, power means interconnecting said forward and tail sections for causing said `sections to hinge backand forth relative to one another, said power means including a cam for providing oscillating movement of one of said sections relative to the other, and a releasable lock for said power means including a detent engageable with said cam, a member adapted to be engaged by a hook and means for connecting said hook engaging member with said detent whereby said hook may be employed to release said detent.

2. A fish toy of the class described comprising anarticulated body including a forward section and a tail section, said forward section including an opening simulating a mouth for said fish, a member simulating a lip of said mouth, means for movably supporting said lip member in said mouth opening, means for hingedly connecting said sections for hinged action along a vertical axis, one of said sections being provided with an extension which extends into the interior of the other of said sections, power means within said other section for engaging said extension, said power means including a cam for providing oscillating movement of said extension so as to cause said sections to hinge back and forth relative to one another, and a releasable lock for said power means including a detent engageable with said cam, said detent being connected to said lip member, whereby engagement of a hook with said lip member moves said lip member to release said detent, thereby energizing said power means and causing thrashing of said fish.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,545 De Filippis Mar. 2, 1920 1,471,147 Dienner Oct. 16, 1923 1,643,903 Prosser Sept. 27, 1927 1,661,758 King Mar. 6, 1928 2,003,193 Hirose May 28, 1935 2,242,724 Kniesner May 20, 1941 2,329,564 Thomas Sept. 14, 1943 2,343,002 Colaluca Feb. 29, 1944 2,511,430 Colaluca June 13, 1950 2,909,868 Lewis Oct. 27, 1959 

1. A FISH TOY OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING AN ARTICULATED BODY INCLUDING A FORWARD SECTION AND A TAIL SECTION, MEANS FOR HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS FOR HINGED ACTION ALONG A VERTICAL AXIS, POWER MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FORWARD AND TAIL SECTIONS FOR CAUSING SAID SECTIONS TO HINGE BACK AND FORTH RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID POWER MEANS INCLUDING A CAM FOR PROVIDING OSCILLATING MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID SECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER, AND A RELEASABLE LOCK FOR SAID POWER MEANS INCLUDING A DETENT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CAM, A MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A HOOK AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID HOOK ENGAGING MEMBER WITH SAID DETENT WHEREBY SAID HOOK MAY BE EMPLOYED TO RELEASE SAID DETENT. 